Of George and Travel Insurance
A glass of wine or two and, at times, an after-dinner Drambuie are part of my normal routine. I wonder why people who gulp down six to eight triple scotches still insist they are fine. It is also a mystery how people claim to have “only had one” when they have actually downed a semi-full glass several times. They also insist to be fine.
Drunk as a “stone,” George arrived at the hospital with nearly three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood. George received treatment for alcoholism when he was in Canada, but the habit kicked in again once he got to the U.S. He was advised to seek help and treatment after he was diagnosed with severe withdrawal symptoms (otherwise known as DTs) by a U.S. hospital. Are you willing to pay this claim? Would you want to add more premiums to George and Millie's medical bills?
No sooner was he discharged than another bout of intoxication caused him to fall down and bang his head on the coffee table. Finding him unconscious, Millie dialled 911 and the ambulance came to take him to the hospital. Head severely injured, he remained under intensive care for five days before the insurance company had him sent back to Canada via air ambulance. There's more to this story, however. The travel insurance company denied George's claim after pulling him out of the hospital. Now he has to pay a whopping $150,000 hospital bill on top of a $18,000 air ambulance fee. What a relief that he's going to be all right, but how on earth will he be able to pay these bills?
A little more thinking may be in order, though. Suppose George had banged his head in a different location, or perhaps the doctors at the hospital had trouble dealing with cerebral haemorrhage. George's passing would mean Millie would not only be alone but she would have to shoulder these huge bills by herself. None of us would want to pass on this kind of legacy to our loved ones.
Though this was not a Medipac claim, Medipac Travel Insurance would likewise not cover a foreseeable accident like this one. We do pay for claims wrought by social drinking and the like but there were tell-tale signs that this accident was bound to happen. For years now, we have seen numerous claims for all kinds of injuries and traumas caused by simple falls including broken limbs and head injuries. Such accidents can dramatically decrease our life expectancy yet can easily be prevented.
George's injuries could very well be prevented but I have witnessed several homes with no handrail on the stairs. Trailers and doublewides usually lack this important stairway feature. One or two stairs may be present but that can be all the more reason to have a handrail. Many of these travel insurance claims start in a similar fashion - “I didn't see the...” or “I had just arrived home when...” or “I was about to leave the house...”. Always prioritize safety at home. Install railings within and outside of your house as soon as possible.
Should I also mention how important handrails are in the bathtub? We are sometimes under the impression that bathroom grab bars are for old people (well age is just a number) and for people with disabilities. It is easy to tell that Pat is using a different shampoo now. You only have to look at the grease-filled shower floor, which can topple you in an instant. A grab rail would make a lot of difference! It can save your spouse's life as much as yours. You have to think of ways to be safer at home, you know. So whoever installs your hand railing, ask him to do your bathroom bars too.
And please be informed that a Medipac Travel Insurance policy and a Manulife policy are not the same. The policy, as well as the application for the policy, specifically mentions Medipac Travel Insurance AND the Canadian Snowbird Association. Be forewarned that a life or general insurance agent may offer you the “snowbird” plan but you shouldn't be confused. That plan has nothing to do with Medipac or the Canadian Snowbird Association. Just remember that there are no agents and commissions at Medipac. And since we're already on this subject, many companies promote their connections with several insurers and plans and promise to find you the best deal ever. The truth is they only sell the plans they can earn commissions from – not Medipac.
Travel insurance claims have been serious this year so we hope you take it easy on us.
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